Apparatus for conveying and piling metal sheets.



G. E. MEL'OWN.

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND FILING METAL SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI6.19X6.

Patented Feb.20,1917.

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INVENTOR 51%?! If )Weipzwz G. E. MELOWN. APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND FILING METAL SHEETS.

. APPLICATION FILED MAY 16. 1916. I

1,216,832. Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

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APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND FILING METAL SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16. 1916.

1,216,832. Patented Feb. 20,1917.

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GEORGE E. MELOWN, or McKEESPORT, PENNSYLVKNIA.

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND FILING METAL SHEETS.

Application filed May 16, 1916. Serial No. 97,782.

'a specification.

This invention relates broadly to apparatus for handling metal sheets, and specifically to a machine for receiving sheets of metal as they emerge from a pair of rolls and conveying the same away and depositing them in a pack or pile or loading them upon cars or other conveyances.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an apparatus whereby sheets of metal emerging from-a pair of rolls are automatically conveyed away from said rolls and deposited in an even pack or pile without injury to the sheets.

A further object of this invention is to' provide a device of the character described,.

designed primarily for handling sheets employed in the manufacture of automobile bodies, which is so constructed and has its receiving end so mounted that it may be readily adjusted in proximity to the rolls and which embodies means for keeping the sheet in perfect alinement upon the conveyer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device embodying means whereby the apparatus may be elevated or lowered as the height of the pile is increased or decreased.

Still further objects of this invention are to provide a device of the character mentioned, which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable and eflicient in its use and inexpensive to manufacture.

To the accomplishment of these and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the

invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts specifically de- Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the frame extension.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, illustrating thedevice and associated parts.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of one side of the apparatus showing the power transmis sion and driving mechanism with parts broken away.

Fig. 5 is fragmentary view showing th construction of the driving gear.

Fig. 6 is an end view of one side of the device illustrating the tripping mechanism.

-Fig. 7 is an end. view of the belt carriers or guards, mounted upon ,the{ supporting rod. I

Referring more 'indetail to thedrawings,

' this invention consists of a pair of convey-.

ers each including the four'belts 1, running upon the pulleys 2', .which are positioned at right angles to each other. Y

The beltsl and the pulleys 2 are driven by means of the 'pinipns 3 meshing into the gears 4. The naled in the ends '22 iof the belt carriers or guards 23, which are positioned at right angles to each other and connected bythe bars 24, bolts 25 andnuts 26,'so same will rotate upon the supporting rods 6, as shown 7 in Fig. 7. The supporting rods 6 are secured at'their rear ends to the supporting blocks pulleys 2 are suitably jour- 7, and at their front ends through the sup-1.

porting blocks 8.

Rotatably mountedin the side members. I

of the frame 5, is the rear, spacing rod 9 and the front spacing rod 10. The one-halfportions of .said' spacing rods 9 and 10 are provided with right-hand threads and the other one-half portions with left-hand threads.

The rear spacing rod 9 passes through the threaded openings in the rear. supportmg blocks 7, which are adapte'd'to operate on said right and left-hand threads, respectively, of the spacing rod 9, when said spac-' ing rod is rotated. v

The front spacing rod l0 passes through the threaded openings in-the front supporting blocks 8, which are adapted to operate on said right and left-hand threads, respectively, of the front spacing rod 10, when.

said spacing rod is rotated.

Sprocket wheels 11 are mounted on one end of the spacing rods '9 and 10 and a chain 12 passing over said sprocket wheels operates the said spacing rods 9 and 10 simultaneously. i

A hand wheel l3is mounted upon one end of the front spacing rod 10, and when it is desired to adjust the conveyers for handling metal sheets of a certain width, the hand wheel 13 is rotated, causing the rotation of the spacing rods 9 and 10 by means of the sprocket wheels 11 and the chain 12, thereby shifting the supporting blocks 7 toward or away from each other uponthe spacing rod away from each other upon the spacing rod' 9, and the supporting blocks 8 toward or -naled in the side members of the frame 5.

Slidably mounted upon drive shaft let, but

adapted to turn therewith, are the bevel gears 15, which mesh into the bevel gears 16 formed integral with the shanks 17 and the gears 4:.

I The shanks 17, with gears 4; and 16 are rotatably mounted onthe front ends of the supporting rods 6, said shanks 17 being provided with suitable bearings 18, in the supporting blocks 8. y

The supporting blocks 8 are provided With the arms 19, formed integral therewith, the

forked ends 20 of which are adapted to engage in the grooved sections 21 of the bevel gears 15, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and keep the gears 15 in mesh with the gears 16 when adjusting or shifting the conveyers upon the spacing rods 9 and 10. y

" The belt carriers or guards 23 are so constructed-that only the upper portions of the belts 1 are exposed, thereby eliminating, as far as possible'the danger of injury to workmen by coming in contact therewith.

The frame 5, being provided with adj ustable legs 27, maybe raised or-lowered as occasion requires.

In Fig.1, 28 indicates the usual finishing rolls, supported .insuitable housing 29.- The cross-bar 30, ofthe frame extension-.31, is

' fixedly secured to the-housing 29 and is illustrated in Fig.3. M

Should the metalsheets emerge from the formed with the slot 32 through which it is attached to the member 33 of the frame ex-. tension 31 by means of the bolt 34.

The frame extension 31 is provided with the springs 35, secured at one end to the frame 5 and at the other to the crossbar 30, and with the springs 36 secured at one end to the crossbar 30 and at the other to the member 33 of the frame extension 31, as

rolls 28 and not be in proper alinement with the belts 1, then positioned to receive same,

said sheets will engage the guides 37, secured to rear end of the frame 5, and shift the conveying device to a position to squarely receive the said sheet upon belts 1. After the sheet has cleared rolls 28 the springs 35 and 36 will automatically shift the apparatus to its normal or original position. i

A tripping arrangement is provided consisting of the cross-rod 38 rotatably mounted in the bearing brackets 39, which are secured to the side members of the frame 5; Adjustably mounted on the cross-rod 38 are the catches 39 which are adapted to engage the side 40 of the belt carriers or guards 23 and hold conveyers in position until released.

Mounted on the center of the cross-rod 38 is the lever 41 which is pivotally connected to the trip rod 12. A trip lever 4:3 is adjustably mounted on the trip rod 42 by means of the set screw l3. The rear end'of the trip rod 42 is slidably secured to the rear of the frame 5, and the spring 14 is provided to automatically set the trip arrangement a fter the tripping operation.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The metal sheet passes from the rolls 28, over the bar 45, to the belts 1. The said sheet is conveyed along on belts 1 until the forward end of the sheet strikesthe trip lever 43 which in turn releases the catches 39 from engagement with the side 40 of the belt draw back the trip rod 42 and the catches 39 will engage the next belt carrier or guard, after conveyers have taken a one-quarter turn, thereby setting conveyers for receiving the next sheet.

From the foregoing descriptlon taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the construction and operation of the invention will be readily apparent, but it is tobe understood 1 that changes, variations and modifications may-be resorted to that come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

What I claim'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1.- In a device for conveying and piling metal sheets, comprising a frame, sheet conframe, a driving mechanism for operating said conveying means and a tripping device actuated by contact with the sheet upon said conveying means for depositing said sheet after the conveying operation.

veying means rotatably mounted on said 2. In a device for conveyingand piling metal sheets, comprising a frame, a pair of conveyers each consisting of a plurality of I belts and pulleys disposed at right an les with respect to each other and rotate. ly mounted on said frame, driving mechanism for operating said conveyers, a tripping device actuated by contact with the sheet upon said conveyers permitting said conveyers to make a one-quarter turn for depositing said sheets and means for automatically holding said conveyers in. operative position after .the tripping and depositing operations.

4. In a device for conveying and piling sheet metal, comprising a frame, a pair of conveyers each consisting of a plurality 'of belts and pulleys disposed at right angles with respect to each other and rotatably mounted on said frame, driving mechanism for operating said conveyers, a tripping mechanism actuated by contact with the sheet upon said conveyers permitting said conveyers to rotate one-quarter turn for depositing said sheets and means attached to said frame for shifting said conveyers so same Will squarely receive said sheets as they emerge from the rolls, substantially as described and set forth.

5. In ,a device for conveying and piling metal sheets comprising'a frame provided with adjustable legs for elevating or lowering said frame, a pair of conveyers each consisting of a plurality of belts and pulleys 40 disposed V at right angles with respect to each other and rotatably mounted on said frame, a driving mechanism for operating said conveyers, a tripping device, actuated bycontact with the sheet upon said conveyers and including catches, which when released permit said conveyers to rotate a one quarter turn and deposit said sheet, means for automatically holding said conveyers after the, depositing operation, and

-means attached to the rear of said frame for shifting said conveyers for alining the sheet thereon, substantially asdescribed and set forth,

In testimony whereof I afligi my signature in the presence of a Witness.

GEORGE 'E. MELOWN.

Witness:

JENN E JoNns. I 

